Is their a Doctor in the house:ACL injury

Galaril · 01-18-2005, 06:58 AM

Hey,
I know there some doctors on the board(Eaglefan) so I got a question. I don't know if anyone got an idea on this. I got an ACL tear but I am not sure if my medical insurance would cover a arthoscoping of it. So I was wondering how much it would cost to do it out of pocket. I am just looking for a ballpark number $500,$800,$1000 that kind of thing. ALso, anyone is specialist in this area I would like to know if there is anything I can do other than surgery?It is not a badly damaged form the opinion I got from the local doctor who took X-rays. I initial injuried it I believe while playing basketball a 4 months ago and seemed like it was ok until I tweaked it at the gym last week don't some running and lifting. I have stopped running on it and no more basketball.
I had the same injury 20 years ago in high school and had the knee scoped then also.

rlfreeze · 01-18-2005, 08:25 AM

I am not sure, but I can imagine that it would cost over 10K. I also believe that the extent of the injury really couldn't be known until an MRI was performed. An MRI, when I had that cost me 1500. Not a Dr., though.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-18-2005, 08:30 AM

Sorry, I don't know about the cost of an ACL repair. However, 1500 sounds right for an MRI. A regular X-Ray wouldn't tell you much about a possible ACL tear, but it's not my field of expertise. I recommend letting a specialist look at it if you can afford it/your insurance covers it. If insurance doesn't cover it, perhaps you can go to a local academic institution that has reduced cost clinics? (I don't know if such things are available in South Korea or not.)

terpkristin · 01-18-2005, 08:34 AM

Ditto what rlfreeze said. You need an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury before you can really make a judgement on the best course of treatment. Simply doing the in-office tests doesn't suffice (unless it's very extreme).

Depending on the level of the injury, you may be able to get away with a good rehabilitation program. I partially tore my ACL (slightly more than 1/2 way torn) when I was in high school and oddly enough, I've NEVER had knee surgery (go figure, at the time I was afraid of going under the knife). I got into an agressive rehab program of strengthening and flexibility work and it was stable enough for me to play soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and karate (though admittedly I did use a functional brace most of the time).

With all of that in mind. Surgery will probably cost between 7k and 10k, depending on where you have it done, who does it, etc etc. When I had my most recent ankle surgery, the surgeon's fees alone were over 10k, then I had hospital fees above that. Thank goodness my insurance took care of me. And, if you have surgery you'll DEFINITELY need rehab and post-op care, which will run the bill up even higher. Most ACL patients I know are in rehab 3 days a week to start with, relatively soon after surgery, and then drop down to 2 days a week with a good home program in place. Actually, most PT (physical therapy, where you go see a physical terrorist

) patients do that: start with 3 days a week and drop down to 2, provided that the patient is good about doing the home program.

Yes, a lot more than you probably needed to know, but when you're talking about a significant injury, I've always found it's good to know options and what you're in for. That all said.

First things first, figure out the extent of the injury. GET AN MRI (and a second opinion if the first orthopod you see suggests surgery without the MRI).

~tk

GrantDawg · 01-18-2005, 08:45 AM

I'm not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night, so I could probably do the surgery for you with a pairing knife, a pair of pliers, and some duct tape. I'll only charge you $20 and a fresh pizza.

Eaglesfan27 · 01-18-2005, 08:48 AM

Sounds like a good deal.

Fonzie · 01-18-2005, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I'm not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night, so I could probably do the surgery for you with a pairing knife, a pair of pliers, and some duct tape. I'll only charge you $20 and a fresh pizza.

I don't have an ACL problem, but that offer is too good to pass up. Is your "office" still in the freezer locker in the Denny's down at the corner?

Galaril · 01-18-2005, 09:07 AM

Actually,
I am fully covered so when I relocate back to the US this summer in June I will go for the MRI to see if it is torn or not. I am not totally trusting the opinion i got here with the local korean doctor since he didn't do a MRI. I can still do alot of activity on it walking a little jumping it does feel more like ahyperextend some times. I could run on it if i was dumb though I won''t so i guess I will check it out.

bbor · 01-18-2005, 11:09 AM

Come to Canada....we fix up American for nothing but a pack of Marlies

CamEdwards · 01-18-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor

Come to Canada....we fix up American for nothing but a pack of Marlies

of course it takes you 12 years to get in to see the doctor...

BigJohn&TheLions · 01-18-2005, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamEdwards

of course it takes you 12 years to get in to see the doctor...

...but you can toss back a few Molson's while ya wait, eh!

01-18-2005, 08:30 AM	#3
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Sorry, I don't know about the cost of an ACL repair. However, 1500 sounds right for an MRI. A regular X-Ray wouldn't tell you much about a possible ACL tear, but it's not my field of expertise. I recommend letting a specialist look at it if you can afford it/your insurance covers it. If insurance doesn't cover it, perhaps you can go to a local academic institution that has reduced cost clinics? (I don't know if such things are available in South Korea or not.) __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

01-18-2005, 08:34 AM	#4
terpkristin Grizzled Veteran Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ashburn, VA	Ditto what rlfreeze said. You need an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury before you can really make a judgement on the best course of treatment. Simply doing the in-office tests doesn't suffice (unless it's very extreme). Depending on the level of the injury, you may be able to get away with a good rehabilitation program. I partially tore my ACL (slightly more than 1/2 way torn) when I was in high school and oddly enough, I've NEVER had knee surgery (go figure, at the time I was afraid of going under the knife). I got into an agressive rehab program of strengthening and flexibility work and it was stable enough for me to play soccer, basketball, lacrosse, and karate (though admittedly I did use a functional brace most of the time). With all of that in mind. Surgery will probably cost between 7k and 10k, depending on where you have it done, who does it, etc etc. When I had my most recent ankle surgery, the surgeon's fees alone were over 10k, then I had hospital fees above that. Thank goodness my insurance took care of me. And, if you have surgery you'll DEFINITELY need rehab and post-op care, which will run the bill up even higher. Most ACL patients I know are in rehab 3 days a week to start with, relatively soon after surgery, and then drop down to 2 days a week with a good home program in place. Actually, most PT (physical therapy, where you go see a physical terrorist ) patients do that: start with 3 days a week and drop down to 2, provided that the patient is good about doing the home program. Yes, a lot more than you probably needed to know, but when you're talking about a significant injury, I've always found it's good to know options and what you're in for. That all said. First things first, figure out the extent of the injury. GET AN MRI (and a second opinion if the first orthopod you see suggests surgery without the MRI). ~tk __________________ GO TERPS! https://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin https://twitter.com/terpkristin

01-18-2005, 08:48 AM	#6
Eaglesfan27 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: New Jersey	Sounds like a good deal. __________________ Retired GM of the eNFL 2007 Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles (19-0 record.) GM of the WOOF 2006 Doggie Bowl Champion Atlantic City Gamblers. GM of the IHOF 2019 and 2022 IHOF Bowl Champion Asheville Axemen.

01-18-2005, 11:09 AM	#9
bbor Pro Starter Join Date: May 2001 Location: toronto	Come to Canada....we fix up American for nothing but a pack of Marlies __________________ Pumpy Tudors Now that I've cracked and made that admission, I wonder if I'm only a couple of steps away from wanting to tongue-kiss Jaromir Jagr and give Bobby Clarke a blowjob.

01-18-2005, 08:25 AM	#2
rlfreeze n00b Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Grenoble, France	I am not sure, but I can imagine that it would cost over 10K. I also believe that the extent of the injury really couldn't be known until an MRI was performed. An MRI, when I had that cost me 1500. Not a Dr., though.

01-18-2005, 08:45 AM	#5
GrantDawg World Champion Mis-speller Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Covington, Ga.	I'm not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night, so I could probably do the surgery for you with a pairing knife, a pair of pliers, and some duct tape. I'll only charge you $20 and a fresh pizza.

01-18-2005, 09:07 AM	#8
Galaril Pro Starter Join Date: Jan 2004	Actually, I am fully covered so when I relocate back to the US this summer in June I will go for the MRI to see if it is torn or not. I am not totally trusting the opinion i got here with the local korean doctor since he didn't do a MRI. I can still do alot of activity on it walking a little jumping it does feel more like ahyperextend some times. I could run on it if i was dumb though I won''t so i guess I will check it out.

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